Electric fixture.



w. J. BOEMPER. ELECTRIC FIXTURE. APPLIOATION TILED QOTA. 1907.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. J.BOEMPER. ELEGTRIG FIXTURE. APPLICATION FILED 0014, 1907.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

W. J. BOEMPER.

ELECTRIC FIXTURE.

APPLIOATION TILED 0014. 1907.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHET 3.

1n: .vorexls PETERS LKL, WASHINGION, n. c.

unrrnn s raries WILLIAM J. BOEMPER, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HIMSELF,

enrich.

AND ONE-HALF TO HARRY A. MUEOKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC FIXTURE.

T 0 all whom it "may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. BOEMPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented an Imrovement in Electric Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric fixtures and generically to a base box and specifically to the base box and means for making electrical connections therefrom to various devices which may be used interchangeably if desired, in connection with the base box,the base box being universally constructed so as to be adapted for use with either a socket fixture, drop cord connection, an electric switch, cluster rosette or receptacle or other device, either of which may be interchangeably employed with the base box. Furthermore, the improved base box may be so constructed as to be employed with molding wiring, concealed wiring'or any other type of wiring, as will hereinafter more particularly ap ear.

n carrying out my invention, the base box comprises base parts adapted to straddle a molding with its circuit wires or having a receptacle to surround the circuit wires and the base of which comes against a surface support; a cup-shaped part extending from the base parts and within the same and secured thereto are means adapted for connection with the circuit wires and from which wires extend to devices forming a socket switch, rosette or other electric structure; parts are to be connected to and upon this base box, which in their particular form and construction are necessary and serviceable in the varied uses of the base box. This base box is of suitable insulating or refractory material and the connections thereto of the parts associated. therewith may be made in any desired or well known manner, such as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved base box with the cap or cover removed, showing the same adapted for use in molding wiring. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal cross section illustrating the use of the base box shown in Fig. 1 in connection with the socket for an electric lamp. Fig. 2 is a plan of the disk member indicated by the reference numeral 29. Fig. 3 is a central transverse section on reduced scale, of the base box shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a central Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October a, 1907.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 395,839.

transverse section on reduced scale, of a modified form of base block. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of base block shown in Fig. 4, and adapted to be used in connection with concealed wiring. Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal cross section illustrating the use of the base box shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in connection with a drop cord. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of cap. Fig. 8 is a section on line a', a, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan View of a base box used in conjunction with an electric switch, Fig. 10 is a central longitudinal cross section on line a, r, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a cross section on line a, a, Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is a cross section on line y, y, Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved base box, according to my invention, comprises a base 10 which may be of any suitable configuration and provided with a slot 11 running diametrically through its under side, providing for and adapted to receive a molding 1 2, provided as is customary, with the grooves 13, in which the circuit wires are laid. Together with the base 10 and preferably integral therewith, I provide a cup-shaped receptacle 14 which is open-ended, there being also provided apertures 15 and 16, whereby passageways are effected between the interior of the receptacle 14 and the space within the slot 11. The receptacle 14 is shown as circular, but as will be nude"- stood, it may be of any suitable conformation, and this member together with the base 10, is made of porcelain, fiber or any other suitable insulating or refractory material. The open end of the receptacle 1% is provided with a reduced portion 17, over which is fitted a screw threaded ring 18, it being manifest that in lieu of the screw threaded ring 18, the screw threads may be formed in the outer surface of the receptacle 14 itself. With n the receptacle 1a and adjacent to the apertures 15 and 16 therein, I employ metallic contacts 19, each of which is preferably cross shaped, comprising the arms 20, by which the same is connected to the rece tacle by means of pins 21 or otherwise anil preferably at right angles from the arms 20 and fitted with a binding screw 23, by means of which one of the circuit wires may be connected thereto and also a support and contact terminal 24 also extending at right a contact terminal 22 extending ployed and angles from the arms in alinement with the contact terminal 22 and outturned at or adjacent to its extremity and provided with a binding screw 25, by means of which suitable electrical connection is made respectively to and from the devices in which the electric current is to be passed and-utilized.

'As shown in Fig. 2, a cap member composed of a ring 26 and flanged annulus 2S, suitably connected together, is adapted to be screwed down upon the threaded ring 18 to the desired position.

The connections necessary in the use of the hereinbefore described base box with an electric lamp bulb may comprise a disk 29 of any suitable insulating material to which a screw socket 30 is secured, this screw socket 30 fitting within the flanged portion of the annulus 28 of the cap and ada ted to receive the correspondingly threadec shank of the light bulb, as is customary. The socket 30 is electrically connected to a terminal 31 adapted to rest upon and to be connected to one of the contact terminals 24 by a binding screw 25; the other terminal 33 in the disk 29 rests upon and is supported by and connected to the other contact terminal .24 by the other bindin screw 25, the terminal 33 being electrical y connected to the contact 35 in order to complete the circuit through the lamp.

It will be understood that I may also employ a suitable canopy or casing indicated at 36 adapted to entirely inclose the receptacle and its cap and which may be provided with an outturned flange or lip 37 to which a lamp shade may if desirable, be connected in the usual manner.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the modified form of the base box 10 is, as will be apparent, adapted for use in connection with concealed wiring, the under side of the base being provided for this urpose, with a recess 32, the space within which communicates with the interior of the receptacle 14 by means of suitable apertures 34, and by reference to Fig. 6, it will be seen that no intermediate connections are necessary in the use of the base box with a drop cord, inasmuch as the drop cord wires 39 may be assed through a suitable bushing secured in the cap 26 and directly connected to the support and contact terminals 24.

In the modified form of cap structure shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a head 42 is emprovided in spaced apart positions with ugs 43 adapted to receive a cluster or other fixture, the electrical connections from which may be passed through the central 0 ening 41 in the head 42.

In using t e improved base box in connection with a switch 44 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, a disk 45 of insulating material may be employed and fitted with the terported upon and connected to the terminals 24 by means of the binding screws 25, the terminals 46 and 47 being on one side of the disk while the terminals 48 and 49 are pro vided with and secured to the opposite side of the disk, the terminal 46 being connected to the terminal 48 and the terminal 47 to the terminal 49 by means of suitable connec tions 50, and the connections from the terminals 4S and 49 to the switch terminals 51, 52, are made by suitable pins 53, 54, vpassing through the base of the switch or otherwise, and in this as in other instances, if desired, I may surround the receptacle 14 and a portion of the base 10 with acanopy or casing indicated at 56, which is secured in position on the base by means of screws 57 or otherwise.

While I have shown in the drawing and hereinbe'i'orc described my invention in connection with a lamp socket, drop cord and an electric snap switch, it is to be understood that the same is in no wise limited to the use of these devices, inasmuch as by providing suitable electrical connections, the basebox may be employed with all kinds of electric fixtures.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric fixture, a base, a receptacle into which the wires of an electric circuit may be passed, and electrical connections within said receptacle, each of which consists in a cross shaped metallic member, two arms of which are secured to the said receptacle to maintain the same therein and the others adapted respectively to be connected to a line wire and to a device to utilize the current.

2. In an electric fixture, a base, a receptacle into which the wires of an electric circuit may be passed and electrical connections within the receptacle, each comprising a metallic member having two oppositely disposed arms which are connected to the receptacle, a terminal adapted to be electric ally connected to a line wire and a support terminal adapted to be electrically connected to a device to utilize the current.

3. In an electric fixture, a base having a slot therein adapted to receive a molding, a receptacle provided with apertures forming passageways between the interior of the said receptacle and the space formed by the slot in the base, electrical connections within the said receptacle, each 01 which consists in a cross shaped metallic member, two arms of which are secured to the said receptacle to maintain the same therein and the others adapted respectively to be connected to a line wire and to a device to utilize the current.

4. In an electric fixture, a base, a receptacle, electrical connections within the receptacle, each comprising a wire terminal,

minals 46, 47, which respectively are sup- 1 a support terminal and means for securing the connections Within the receptacle, a disk, a socket secured on said disk, a contact fixed on said disk, means for electrically connecting the said socket and contact respectively to the said support terminals and a cap for the said receptacle.

5. In an electric fixture, a base having a slot therein adapted to receive a molding, a receptacle integral with said base and having apertures therein providing passageways between the interior of the said receptacle and the space fori'ned by the said slot in the base, electrical connections within the said receptacle, each con'iprising a Wire terminal, a support terminal and arms by which the same is secured to the said. receptacle, the said Wire terniinal, support terminal and arms being formed in an integral structure, a disk adapted to fit Within the said receptacle, a socket fixed on the said disk, a terminal connected to said socket and adapted to rest on and to be connected to one 01' the said support terminals, a second terminal on said disk adapted to rest upon and be connected to the other support terminal and to contact to complete the circuit to a device inserted in the said socket and a cap adapted to close the said receptacle and to surround the said socket.

Signed by me this 20th day of September, 1907.

WM. J BOEMPEF Vitnesses:

ARTHUR H. SERRELL, BERTHA M. ALLEN. 

